Groundhog day....I think he will stay in his den and let us crazies figure out if we will have an early spring. This is my deck yesterday a 4pm...I guess there to be a foot of snow. This morning I can't open the door, the snow drifted up against it. Needless to say there will be no fishing today, tomorrow perhaps. February being the month of my birth I have been searching the net for some things to buy, anticipating a little cash from birthday gifts. I'm looking to buy another Wheatley fly box. These fly boxes I hope to leave as a little treasure to my children. Also in the list are a few tying materials. One desperate item is a Hare's Mask....
The "February Red"...I'm not sure who created it but I found it in Dave Hughes book "Wet Flies"...this fly works all year....maybe it should be called the 12 month fly...
The "Takayama Sakasa Kebari" I hope I spelled it right. This fly works well for me in the colder months.
Steve Z. A fellow that I have associated with for a good many years. Way back on the days of Fly Addict forum we exchanged many views and thoughts on small stream fishing. Steve authored a piece for TU's "TROUT" magazine on me. The article was about all that is small stream fly fishing. The passion and the stealth, the dedication to mini trout, the conservation of their habitat and so on. Here he is on my home waters with a wild jewel. Where are you Steve?
You're not going to let a little snow stop you from trying to find a stream, are you? Just kidding Alan. Most of our streams are under 5 feet or so of snow. Good thing the season is closed out here. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark the real issue this time of year is finding a place to park. The roads are plowed but the turnouts along the road are not. Spring is a mere 46 days away.
We do not have the little feller over here.
ReplyDeleteBureboyblog
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He liked to travel so perhaps....
Happy birthday, Alan! I guess you could make a case for the 'February Red' having been around since, forever. The Romans made mention of Macedonians tying red wool around a hook with two wings to catch trout in the Astraeus river 2,000 years ago.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike 2000 years, yikes...some things never go out of style. The fly is effective.
14” here and time to try tying these kebari flies. The Takayama Sakasa is stunning: looks like “winter + bug” with its bottom half of snow white thread or floss body, peacock herl thorax exploding into grizzly white “snow” legs concealing a blood red emergence. Poetry in a fly.
ReplyDeleteKevin
Ned Zeppelin
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Kevin I love "poetry in a fly"...there is more to that then just words. I saw that pattern on Teton Tenkara blog. He has an excellent video on how to tie it.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI am sure you guys are use to snow, but this year seems a little extreme in the Northeast!!!
The Kebari would be a killer pattern while Euro Nymphing. I am going to treat my 10 ft. nymphing fly rod as a Tenkara fly rod come Friday. I hope I can land a few trout using this new technique. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill I think that your 10 footer would work OK. As for the trout working with you that's another story. Glad your going to get out.
Small streams are on my agenda this year, Alan. Along with more freestones, most especially the one two miles from where I live. I too often default to the nearby tailwater and need to explore more. You and Rowan give me inspiration to do so.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you got about the same amount of snow we did at our home. Some outlying areas got quite a bit more which is good news for our streams.
Best, Sam
Sam
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Sam your going to have a whole new adventure. Small streams and those freestones will offer you some exciting and very rewarding days. It is unpretentious fishing.
If we can now get a slow melt the benefits will be great.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteHere I use a lot the Grouse and Red which is also very effective throughout the season.
From what I can see it is a fly quite similar to the February Red very well tied that you present in this post.
Humberto (Achalabrookies)
Anonymous
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Humberto I guess trout are the same where ever we find them. Sometimes red takes on a slightly different color when wet.